What is it about Napoleon?

A year or two out of date, but, damn.

Gee, Jenn, what exciting things did you do this past Friday night?

Well, while waiting to pick up the Spouse from downtown Portland, I cleaned, chased cats, read a Marcus Didius Falco novel and finished editing, organizing and uploading photos I’ve taken over the past couple or so months! Some of these photos actually document times I’ve gotten out of the house and socialized!

Beyond my usual assortment of random photos…

I managed to document Anne’s love of steak.

There is also evidence of New Year’s Eve shenanigans…

And, naturally, more cats.

You can see all of the photos I uploaded here, here and here. Next, I just might resume making regular journal posts that don’t simply report Dicebox updates! (but don’t hold your breath).

Thanksgiving, 2006

(click the baked goods for more photos)

As is our wont, Kip and I went over to Barry, Sarah and Charles’ house to share Thanksgiving with them and assorted friends and housemates: Matt, Kim, Sydney, Maddox, Jake, Bean, Dan, Bill, Anne, Dylan, Indy, Kevin, Katie, Owen and briefly John, Becca, Alice and another Matt.

As usual, I baked pie: mushroom and brandied butternut squash. As usual, Kip baked bread: goyish challah and potato oat.

Not much else to report: we talked a lot, laughed a lot, ate too much and then stumbled home in a food coma. And are still cleaning the kitchen.

History of the Button

One of the industrial design blogs the I’m slowly becoming aware of just gave Bill’s blog a nice mention and prompted my memory to make note of it here.

From “About the History of the Button”:

The idea: The button is interesting. It has a history, an evolution. It began as a simple on/off device and has become a central part of our human culture. We reach out to manipulate objects. We push buttons and magic things happen.

At first, the light goes on. The light goes off. But now, we find our friends and family. We order and ship presents. We launch bombs. The button is the center of our power.

This blog/resource/concept is to explore and record the history of the button. That’s all.

I have a fondness for narrow focused blogs as it is, especially cultural/design ones, so my liking Bill’s blog was almost a gimme. But how can you possibly resist a site that lets you know the first portable flashlight was developed in 1898 as well as informing you of songs about the button from 1891?

Point for pie!

If Patrick hadn’t fervently wanted some peach-blueberry pie after the Mountain Goats concert (with the unexpectedly perky Barbara Morgenstern as opening act), we might’ve missed seeing the World Naked Bike Ride going zooming by our window corner booth and views like this.